UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number

811-04764

 

 

 

BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund

 

 

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

 

 

 

 

c/o BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.

240 Greenwich Street

New York, New York  10286

 

 

(Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip code)

 

 

 

 

 

Bennett A. MacDougall, Esq.

240 Greenwich Street

New York, New York  10286

 

 

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 

(212) 922-6400

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

 

04/30

 

Date of reporting period:

04/30/2020

 

 

 

 

             

 

 


 

FORM N-CSR

Item 1.             Reports to Stockholders.

 


 

BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund

 

ANNUAL REPORT

April 30, 2020

 

 

 

Save time. Save paper. View your next shareholder report online as soon as it’s available. Log into www.bnymellonim.com/us and sign up for eCommunications. It’s simple and only takes a few minutes.

 

The views expressed in this report reflect those of the portfolio manager(s) only through the end of the period covered and do not necessarily represent the views of BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. or any other person in the BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. organization. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a fund in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any fund in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds.

 

Not FDIC-Insured • Not Bank-Guaranteed • May Lose Value

 

Contents

THE FUND

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Back Cover

 

       
 


BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund

 

The Fund

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF BNY MELLON INVESTMENT ADVISER, INC.

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to present this annual report for BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund (formerly, Dreyfus Municipal Bond Opportunity Fund), covering the 12-month period from May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2020. For information about how the fund performed during the reporting period, as well as general market perspectives, we provide a Discussion of Fund Performance on the pages that follow.

Early in the reporting period, equity markets benefited from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (the “Fed”) accommodative interest rate policy. Trade tensions between the U.S. and China flared periodically, disrupting markets, but the pace of U.S. economic growth remained steady, and stocks rose in mid-2019. Volatility returned in the later summer and early fall, when investors grew concerned about slowing global growth, leading the Fed to cut the federal funds rate in July, September and October 2019. The rate cuts helped to support stock prices, which rallied through the end of the calendar year. The announcement of a “phase one” trade deal between the U.S. and China also worked to bolster valuations. Early in 2020, concerns about COVID-19 roiled markets, compounded by an oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. Stocks posted historic losses in March 2020 but regained some ground in April.

Fixed-income markets benefited from Fed interest rate cuts and from investor concerns about an economic slowdown. Responding to global sluggishness, the Fed reduced rates three times in 2019, which worked to bolster valuations of some fixed income instruments. However, as stocks subsequently rallied, Treasury prices declined, and rates across much of the yield curve rose until early in 2020, when the threat posed by COVID-19 began to emerge. A flight to quality ensued, and rates fell significantly. March 2020 brought high volatility and risk-asset spreads widened. The Fed cut rates twice in March, and the government launched a large stimulus package. In April 2020, bond prices began to recover some of their prior losses.

The near-term outlook for the U.S. will be challenging, as the country continues to face COVID-19. However, we believe that once the economic effects have been mitigated, the economy will rebound. As always, we will monitor relevant data for any signs of a change. We encourage you to discuss the risks and opportunities in today’s investment environment with your financial advisor.

Thank you for your continued confidence and support.

Sincerely,

Renee LaRoche-Morris
President
BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.
May 15, 2020

2

 

DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited)

For the period from May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2020, as provided by Daniel Rabasco and Jeffrey Burger, Portfolio Managers

Market and Fund Performance Overview

For the 12-month period ended April 30, 2020, BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund’s (formerly, Dreyfus Municipal Bond Opportunity Fund) Class A shares produced a total return of 0.32%, Class C shares returned -0.46%, Class I shares returned 0.57%, Class Y shares returned 0.57% and Class Z shares returned 0.37%.1 In comparison, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Municipal Bond Index (the “Index”), the fund’s benchmark index, achieved a total return of 2.16% for the same period.2

Municipal bonds experienced turmoil during the reporting period due to the COVID-19 virus. The fund underperformed the Index, largely due to unfavorable asset allocation and security selection.

The Fund’s Investment Approach

The fund seeks to maximize current income exempt from federal income tax to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital. To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in municipal bonds that provide income exempt from federal income tax. Typically, the fund invests substantially all of its assets in such municipal bonds. The fund invests at least 70% of its assets in municipal bonds rated, at the time of purchase, investment grade (i.e.,Baa/BBB or higher) or the unrated equivalent as determined by BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. For additional yield, the fund may invest up to 30% of its assets in municipal bonds rated below investment grade (“high yield” or “junk” bonds) or the unrated equivalent as determined by BNY Mellon Investment Advisor, Inc. The dollar-weighted, average maturity of the fund’s portfolio normally exceeds ten years, but the fund may invest without regard to maturity or duration.

The fund’s portfolio managers focus on identifying undervalued sectors and securities and minimize the use of interest rate forecasting. The portfolio managers select municipal bonds for the fund’s portfolio by using fundamental credit analysis to estimate the relative value and attractiveness of various sectors and securities and to exploit pricing inefficiencies in the municipal bond market, and by actively trading among various sectors, such as pre-refunded, general obligation and revenue, based on their apparent relative values. The fund seeks to invest in several of these sectors.

COVID-19 Concerns and Supply-Demand Factors Drove Municipal Bonds

Through most of the reporting period, the municipal bond market benefited from strong demand resulting from concerns about domestic economic growth. Demand was also driven by investors in states with high income tax rates. These investors moved into municipal bonds as a way to reduce their federal income tax liability, which rose as a result of the cap on the federal deductibility of state and local taxes in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

3

 

DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited) (continued)

Actions by the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) midway through the period, including three rate cuts, also helped performance in the municipal bond market. This contributed to a decline in yields across the municipal bond yield curve, though investors largely favored longer-term issues, causing the municipal bond yield curve to flatten.

Performance of the market was also assisted by a manageable supply of new bonds. Supply increased somewhat during the reporting period as low interest rates led issuers to seek to capture favorable financing.

The municipal bond market continued to perform well early in 2020 until the emergence of the COVID-19 crisis, which resulted in turmoil and hindered returns, particularly in March 2020. Actions by the Fed, including two emergency rate cuts in March 2020, provided some support to the municipal bond market, but technical supply and demand factors became the predominant drivers.

Though the municipal bond market often benefits from economic uncertainty, in this environment that was not the case. Fears of widespread economic damage due to COVID-19 caused investors to shift out of the municipal bond market, resulting in large outflows from municipal bond mutual funds. In a normal market, broker-dealers would step in to buy municipal bonds. But a decline in the municipal bond market, combined with a rally in the Treasury market, prevented them from hedging their municipal bond purchases by shorting Treasuries, as they normally do.

In addition, the municipal bond market was hurt by the inability of large investors to capitalize on the volatility. As municipal bond yields rose, insurance companies and other large investors were expected to step in, but since there was also a lack of liquidity in corporate bonds, which normally would have financed their municipal bond purchases, these investors were hindered by their inability to act. As a result, the municipal market yield spreads rose significantly, weakening performance.

Fundamentals in the municipal bond market generally remained healthy during the reporting period. Steady but slower economic growth through most of the period supported tax revenues, fiscal balances and “rainy day” funds.

Security Selection and Asset Allocation Drove Fund Results

The fund’s performance versus the Index was hindered during the reporting period by the asset allocation and security selection. The fund’s underweight position in general obligation bonds and overweight position in revenue bonds contributed negatively to performance. Spreads widened particularly in lower-quality revenue bonds and in the education, health care, housing and special tax sectors. Security selection, especially in the education, health care and special tax sectors also detracted from performance.

On a more positive note, the fund’s longer duration was advantageous to performance. Holdings in the power and transportation sectors also performed better than other sectors. There were no derivatives used during the reporting period.

4

 

An Emphasis on Quality

We expect the municipal bond market to remain challenged for a while, but the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Security (CARES) Act will provide some relief to the economy, and the Fed’s bond purchasing program will provide support to the market. However, uncertainty about the economic and municipal credit impact of COVID-19 will continue over the near term. Additional support from Congress in the form of a Phase 4 relief package may boost investor confidence in the municipal bond market and also encourage broker-dealers to return as intermediaries.

We will continue to emphasize revenue bonds with sound fundamentals, and we expect to keep the fund’s duration long relative to the benchmark.

May 15, 2020

1 Total return includes reinvestment of dividends and any capital gains paid and does not take into consideration the maximum initial sales charge in the case of Class A shares or the applicable contingent deferred sales charge imposed on redemptions in the case of Class C shares. Had these charges been reflected, returns would have been lower. Class I, Class Y, and Class Z are not subject to any initial or deferred sales charge. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Share price, yield, and investment return fluctuate such that upon redemption, fund shares may be worth more or less than their original cost. Income may be subject to state and local taxes, and some income may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT) for certain investors. Capital gains, if any, are taxable.

2 Source: Lipper Inc. — The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Municipal Bond Index covers the U.S. dollar-denominated, long-term, tax-exempt bond market. Investors cannot invest directly in any index.

Bonds are subject generally to interest-rate, credit, liquidity and market risks, to varying degrees, all of which are more fully described in the fund’s prospectus. Generally, all other factors being equal, bond prices are inversely related to interest-rate changes, and rate increases can cause price declines.

The amount of public information available about municipal bonds is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds. Special factors, such as legislative changes, and state and local economic and business developments, may adversely affect the yield and/or value of the fund’s investments in municipal bonds. Other factors include the general conditions of the municipal bond market, the size of the particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. Changes in economic, business or political conditions relating to a particular municipal project, municipality or state in which the fund invests may have an impact on the fund’s share price.

Recent market risks include pandemic risks related to COVID-19. The effects of COVID-19 have contributed to increased volatility in global markets and will likely affect certain countries, companies, industries and market sectors more dramatically than others. To the extent the fund may overweight its investments in certain countries, companies, industries or market sectors, such positions will increase the fund’s exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those countries, companies, industries or sectors.

5

 

FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited)

Comparison of change in value of a $10,000 investment in Class A shares, Class C shares, Class I shares and Class Z shares of BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund with a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Municipal Bond Index (the “Index”).

 Source: Lipper Inc.

†† The total return figures presented for Class I shares of the fund reflect the performance of the fund’s Class A shares for the period prior to 8/31/16 (the inception date for Class I shares), not reflecting the applicable sales load for Class A shares.

Past performance is not predictive of future performance.

The above graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in each of the Class A, Class C, Class I and Class Z shares of BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund on 4/30/10 to a hypothetical investment of $10,000 made in the Index on that date. All dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested.

The fund’s performance shown in the line graph above takes into account the maximum initial sales charge on Class A shares and all other applicable fees and expenses on Class A, Class C, Class I and Class Z shares. The Index, unlike the fund, covers the U.S. dollar-denominated long-term tax-exempt bond market. These factors can contribute to the Index potentially outperforming or underperforming the fund. Unlike a mutual fund, the Index is not subject to charges, fees and other expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in any index. Further information relating to fund performance, including expense reimbursements, if applicable, is contained in the Financial Highlights section of the prospectus and elsewhere in this report.

6

 

Comparison of change in value of a $1,000,000 investment in Class Y shares of BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund with a hypothetical investment of $1,000,000 in the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Municipal Bond Index (the “Index”).

 Source: Lipper Inc.

†† The total return figures presented for Class Y shares of the fund reflect the performance of the fund’s Class A shares for the period prior to 8/31/16 (the inception date for Class Y shares), not reflecting the applicable sales load for Class A shares.

Past performance is not predictive of future performance.

The above graph compares a hypothetical $1,000,000 investment made in Class Y shares of BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund on 4/30/10 to a hypothetical investment of $1,000,000 made in the Index on that date. All dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested.

The fund’s performance shown in the graph above takes into account all applicable fees and expenses of the fund’s Class Y shares. The Index, unlike the fund, covers the U.S. dollar-denominated long-term tax-exempt bond market. These factors can contribute to the Index potentially outperforming or underperforming the fund. Unlike a mutual fund, the Index is not subject to charges, fees and other expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in any index. Further information relating to fund performance, including expense reimbursements, if applicable, is contained in the Financial Highlights section of the prospectus and elsewhere in this report.

7

 

FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited) (continued)

         

Average Annual Total Returns as of 4/30/2020

 

 

 

 

Inception
Date

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Class A shares

       

with maximum sales charge (4.5%)

11/26/86

-4.20%

1.54%

3.14%

without sales charge

11/26/86

0.32%

2.48%

3.61%

Class C shares

       

with applicable redemption charge

7/13/95

-1.43%

1.70%

2.83%

without redemption

7/13/95

-0.46%

1.70%

2.83%

Class I shares

8/31/16

0.57%

2.66%††

3.70%††

Class Y shares

8/31/16

0.57%

2.58%††

3.66%††

Class Z shares

10/14/04

0.37%

2.53%

3.67%

Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Municipal Bond Index

 

2.16%

3.04%

3.89%

 The maximum contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is 1% for shares redeemed within one year of the date of purchase.

†† The total return performance figures presented for Class I and Class Y shares of the fund reflect the performance of the fund’s Class A shares for the period prior to 8/31/16 (the inception date for Class I and Y shares), not reflecting the applicable sales load for Class A shares.

The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Share price and investment return fluctuate and an investor’s shares may be worth more or less than original cost upon redemption. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Go to bnymellonim.com/us for the fund’s most recent month-end returns.

The fund’s performance shown in the graphs and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. In addition to the performance of Class A shares shown with and without a maximum sales charge, the fund’s performance shown in the table takes into account all other applicable fees and expenses on all classes.

8

 

UNDERSTANDING YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES (Unaudited)

As a mutual fund investor, you pay ongoing expenses, such as management fees and other expenses. Using the information below, you can estimate how these expenses affect your investment and compare them with the expenses of other funds. You also may pay one-time transaction expenses, including sales charges (loads) and redemption fees, which are not shown in this section and would have resulted in higher total expenses. For more information, see your fund’s prospectus or talk to your financial adviser.

Review your fund’s expenses

The table below shows the expenses you would have paid on a $1,000 investment in BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund from November 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020. It also shows how much a $1,000 investment would be worth at the close of the period, assuming actual returns and expenses.

               

Expenses and Value of a $1,000 Investment

 

Assume actual returns for the six months ended April 30, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

Class C

Class I

Class Y

Class Z

 

Expense paid per $1,000

$3.52

$7.37

$2.35

$2.30

$3.28

 

Ending value (after expenses)

$966.00

$962.30

$967.20

$967.10

$966.20

 

COMPARING YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES
WITH THOSE OF OTHER FUNDS
(Unaudited)

Using the SEC’s method to compare expenses

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has established guidelines to help investors assess fund expenses. Per these guidelines, the table below shows your fund’s expenses based on a $1,000 investment, assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return. You can use this information to compare the ongoing expenses (but not transaction expenses or total cost) of investing in the fund with those of other funds. All mutual fund shareholder reports will provide this information to help you make this comparison. Please note that you cannot use this information to estimate your actual ending account balance and expenses paid during the period.

               

Expenses and Value of a $1,000 Investment

 

Assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return for the six months ended April 30, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

Class C

Class I

Class Y

Class Z

 

Expense paid per $1,000

$3.62

$7.57

$2.41

$2.36

$3.37

 

Ending value (after expenses)

$1,021.28

$1,017.35

$1,022.48

$1,022.53

$1,021.53

 

Expenses are equal to the fund’s annualized expense ratio of .72% for Class A, 1.51% for Class C, .48% for Class I, .47% for Class Y and .67% for Class Z, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182/366 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

9

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS

April 30, 2020

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity
Date

 

Principal
Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Bonds and Notes - .2%

         

Collateralized Municipal-Backed Securities - .2%

         

Arizona Industrial Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Ser. 2019-2
(cost $1,142,913)

 

3.63

 

5/20/2033

 

1,041,293

 

986,802

 
                 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 98.2%

         

Alabama - 5.2%

         

Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority, Special Tax Bonds, Ser. B

 

5.00

 

7/1/2043

 

2,500,000

 

2,829,075

 

Black Belt Energy Gas District, Revenue Bonds, Ser. B1, 1 Month LIBOR x .67 +.90%

 

1.56

 

12/1/2023

 

1,405,000

a

1,329,439

 

Jefferson County, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

9/15/2032

 

1,000,000

 

1,185,360

 

Jefferson County, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.) Ser. C

 

0/6.60

 

10/1/2042

 

7,835,000

b

7,461,741

 

The Lower Alabama Gas District, Revenue Bonds (Gas Project)

 

4.00

 

12/1/2025

 

1,750,000

 

1,863,558

 

The Southeast Alabama Gas Supply District, Revenue Bonds (Project 2) Ser. A

 

4.00

 

6/1/2024

 

2,240,000

 

2,354,979

 

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Revenue Bonds, Ser. B

 

4.00

 

10/1/2035

 

2,000,000

 

2,273,240

 
 

19,297,392

 

Arizona - 2.3%

         

Glendale Industrial Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Sun Health Services Obligated Group) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

11/15/2054

 

1,500,000

 

1,557,480

 

La Paz County Industrial Development Authority, Revenue Bonds (Charter School Solutions) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

2/15/2046

 

2,000,000

c

2,049,100

 

Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority, Revenue Bonds (Banner Health Obligated Group) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

1/1/2041

 

1,175,000

 

1,330,523

 

Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority, Revenue Bonds (Benjamin Franklin Charter School Obligated Group)

 

6.00

 

7/1/2038

 

2,750,000

c

2,872,237

 

10

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity Date

 

Principal Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 98.2% (continued)

         

Arizona - 2.3% (continued)

         

The Phoenix Industrial Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (BASIS Schools Projects) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

7/1/2046

 

1,000,000

c

892,900

 
 

8,702,240

 

California - 4.5%

         

California, GO

 

5.00

 

10/1/2030

 

4,500,000

 

5,620,905

 

California, GO, Refunding

 

5.00

 

4/1/2033

 

2,710,000

 

3,351,836

 

California Health Facilities Financing Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Sutter Health Obligated Group) Ser. B

 

5.00

 

11/15/2046

 

2,500,000

 

2,734,525

 

Sacramento North Natomas Community Facilities District No. 4, Special Tax Bonds, Refunding, Ser. E

 

5.00

 

9/1/2030

 

1,500,000

 

1,645,110

 

San Francisco City & County Airport Commission, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (San Francisco International Airport) Ser. B

 

5.00

 

5/1/2041

 

1,500,000

 

1,644,210

 

San Francisco City & County Airport Commission, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. E

 

5.00

 

5/1/2050

 

1,500,000

 

1,680,765

 
 

16,677,351

 

Colorado - 5.3%

         

Colorado Educational & Cultural Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds (Johnson & Wales University) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

4/1/2031

 

1,360,000

 

1,431,536

 

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds (Children's Hospital Colorado Project) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

12/1/2041

 

2,500,000

 

2,752,375

 

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds (Covenant Retirement Communities Obligated Group)

 

5.00

 

12/1/2043

 

2,000,000

 

2,012,400

 

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Adventist Health System Obligated Group)

 

5.00

 

11/19/2026

 

2,500,000

 

2,978,725

 

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (CommonSpirit Health Obligated Group) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

8/1/2044

 

1,250,000

 

1,336,463

 

11

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity Date

 

Principal Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 98.2% (continued)

         

Colorado - 5.3% (continued)

         

Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System Obligated Group) Ser. A

 

4.00

 

1/1/2036

 

2,000,000

 

2,124,060

 

Denver City & County Airport System, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

12/1/2048

 

3,000,000

 

3,387,330

 

Denver City & County Airport System, Revenue Bonds, Ser. A

 

5.50

 

11/15/2027

 

3,065,000

 

3,422,532

 
 

19,445,421

 

Connecticut - 1.7%

         

Connecticut, GO, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

10/15/2025

 

3,000,000

 

3,304,230

 

Connecticut Development Authority, Revenue Bonds (Aquarion Water Project)

 

5.50

 

4/1/2021

 

3,000,000

 

3,103,650

 
 

6,407,880

 

District of Columbia - 1.4%

         

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

10/1/2035

 

1,500,000

 

1,676,670

 

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

10/1/2035

 

1,000,000

 

1,103,450

 

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. B

 

4.00

 

10/1/2049

 

2,500,000

 

2,421,700

 
 

5,201,820

 

Florida - 3.1%

         

Broward County Airport System, Revenue Bonds

 

5.00

 

10/1/2037

 

1,560,000

 

1,742,692

 

Escambia County, Revenue Bonds

 

5.00

 

10/1/2046

 

2,000,000

 

2,316,600

 

Miami Beach Redevelopment Agency, Tax Allocation Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

2/1/2033

 

1,000,000

 

1,121,020

 

Miami Beach Stormwater, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

9/1/2047

 

2,500,000

 

2,710,725

 

Palm Beach County Health Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Baptist Health South Florida Obligated Group)

 

4.00

 

8/15/2049

 

1,250,000

 

1,282,088

 

Polk County Utility System, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

4.00

 

10/1/2043

 

1,250,000

 

1,421,413

 

Port of Palm Beach District, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Insured; XL Capital Assurance)

 

0.00

 

9/1/2023

 

1,000,000

d

862,040

 
 

11,456,578

 

12

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity Date

 

Principal Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 98.2% (continued)

         

Georgia - 2.7%

         

Georgia Municipal Electric Authority, Revenue Bonds (Plant Vogtle Unis 3&4 Project)

 

5.00

 

1/1/2037

 

1,100,000

 

1,186,405

 

Georgia Municipal Electric Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Project 1) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

1/1/2028

 

2,500,000

 

2,749,000

 

Main Street Natural Gas, Revenue Bonds, Ser. C

 

4.00

 

9/1/2026

 

3,750,000

 

4,020,112

 

Private Colleges & Universities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Emory University) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

10/1/2043

 

1,700,000

 

1,883,175

 
 

9,838,692

 

Illinois - 14.7%

         

Chicago Board of Education, GO, Refunding (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

12/1/2033

 

1,000,000

 

1,174,510

 

Chicago Board of Education, GO, Refunding (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.) Ser. C

 

5.00

 

12/1/2030

 

1,500,000

 

1,793,160

 

Chicago Board of Education, Revenue Bonds

 

5.00

 

4/1/2042

 

1,000,000

 

966,360

 

Chicago II Wastewater Transmission, Revenue Bonds (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.)

 

5.00

 

1/1/2033

 

2,490,000

 

2,697,591

 

Chicago II Waterworks, Revenue Bonds

 

5.00

 

11/1/2025

 

1,925,000

 

2,055,168

 

Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, GO (Green Bond) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

12/1/2044

 

2,000,000

 

2,172,420

 

Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Revenue Bonds

 

5.75

 

1/1/2043

 

3,750,000

 

3,884,437

 

Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

1/1/2048

 

1,500,000

 

1,637,655

 

Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

1/1/2034

 

2,100,000

 

2,252,418

 

Chicago Park District, GO, Refunding, Ser. C

 

5.00

 

1/1/2027

 

2,030,000

 

2,163,696

 

Cook County II, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

11/15/2035

 

2,500,000

 

2,966,425

 

Illinois, Revenue Bonds (Insured; Build America Mutual) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

6/15/2030

 

2,000,000

 

2,224,820

 

Illinois, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

6/15/2024

 

2,500,000

 

2,594,450

 

13

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity Date

 

Principal Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 98.2% (continued)

         

Illinois - 14.7% (continued)

         

Illinois Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds (Advocate Health Care Network Obligated Group)

 

5.00

 

6/1/2027

 

2,000,000

 

2,171,680

 

Illinois Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (OSF Healthcare System Obligated Group) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

11/15/2045

 

1,000,000

 

1,030,730

 

Illinois Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Rush University Medical Center Obligated Group) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

11/15/2033

 

3,000,000

 

3,263,010

 

Illinois Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (The University of Chicago) Ser. A

 

4.00

 

4/1/2050

 

3,000,000

 

3,290,250

 

Illinois Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

6.00

 

7/1/2043

 

2,500,000

 

2,724,550

 

Illinois Municipal Electric Agency, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

2/1/2032

 

1,500,000

 

1,710,735

 

Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

6/15/2050

 

1,000,000

 

914,040

 

Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (McCormick Place Project) Ser. B

 

5.00

 

12/15/2028

 

2,000,000

 

1,977,860

 

Northern Illinois University, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Insured; Build America Mutual) Ser. B

 

4.00

 

4/1/2040

 

1,475,000

 

1,481,225

 

Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement Authority, Revenue Bonds

 

5.00

 

6/1/2026

 

2,320,000

 

2,758,202

 

Regional Transportation Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.)

 

6.00

 

6/1/2025

 

1,000,000

 

1,157,440

 

Sales Tax Securitization Corp., Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

4.00

 

1/1/2039

 

2,350,000

 

2,256,728

 

Sales Tax Securitization Corp., Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

4.00

 

1/1/2038

 

1,000,000

 

966,550

 
 

54,286,110

 

Indiana - 1.5%

         

Indiana Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

3/1/2039

 

1,400,000

 

1,389,780

 

Indiana Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Community Health Network Obligated Group) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

5/1/2042

 

4,000,000

 

4,177,960

 
 

5,567,740

 

14

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity Date

 

Principal Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 98.2% (continued)

         

Iowa - 1.2%

         

Iowa Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Iowa Fertilizer Co. Project)

 

5.25

 

12/1/2025

 

1,000,000

 

1,002,860

 

Iowa Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Iowa Fertilizer Co. Project)

 

5.88

 

12/1/2027

 

1,520,000

c

1,545,080

 

Iowa Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Iowa Fertilizer Co. Project) Ser. B

 

5.25

 

12/1/2037

 

1,765,000

 

1,729,223

 
 

4,277,163

 

Kansas - .4%

         

Kansas Development Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds (Village Shalom Project) Ser. B

 

4.00

 

11/15/2025

 

1,700,000

 

1,575,186

 

Kentucky - 2.6%

         

Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Louisville Arena Project) (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

12/1/2045

 

2,000,000

 

2,144,560

 

Kentucky Public Energy Authority, Revenue Bonds, Ser. A

 

4.00

 

4/1/2024

 

1,010,000

 

1,060,338

 

Kentucky Public Energy Authority, Revenue Bonds, Ser. B

 

4.00

 

1/1/2025

 

6,000,000

 

6,239,400

 
 

9,444,298

 

Louisiana - 2.5%

         

Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds (Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System Obligated Group Project) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

7/1/2047

 

1,500,000

 

1,636,620

 

New Orleans Aviation Board, Revenue Bonds (Parking Facilities Corp.) (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.)

 

5.00

 

10/1/2048

 

1,250,000

 

1,453,913

 

New Orleans Aviation Board, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.)

 

5.00

 

1/1/2036

 

1,135,000

 

1,310,550

 

New Orleans Aviation Board, Revenue Bonds, Ser. B

 

5.00

 

1/1/2040

 

2,175,000

 

2,360,245

 

St. John the Baptist Parish, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Marathon Oil)

 

2.20

 

7/1/2026

 

1,000,000

 

832,330

 

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.25

 

5/15/2035

 

1,500,000

 

1,584,480

 
 

9,178,138

 

15

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity Date

 

Principal Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 98.2% (continued)

         

Maine - .6%

         

Maine Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds (Maine General Medical Center Obligated Group)

 

7.50

 

7/1/2032

 

2,000,000

 

2,090,860

 

Massachusetts - 1.5%

         

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Suffolk University)

 

5.00

 

7/1/2027

 

1,750,000

 

1,909,460

 

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

7/1/2033

 

1,250,000

 

1,416,063

 

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

7/1/2044

 

1,000,000

 

1,077,020

 

Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. K

 

5.25

 

7/1/2029

 

1,100,000

 

1,156,694

 
 

5,559,237

 

Michigan - 4.0%

         

Great Lakes Water Authority Water Supply System, Revenue Bonds, Ser. B

 

5.00

 

7/1/2046

 

3,000,000

 

3,422,430

 

Karegnondi Water Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

11/1/2041

 

1,000,000

 

1,146,470

 

Michigan Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Great Lakes Water Authority) (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.) Ser. C3

 

5.00

 

7/1/2031

 

2,500,000

 

2,780,250

 

Michigan Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.) Ser. D1

 

5.00

 

7/1/2037

 

2,000,000

 

2,191,640

 

Michigan Strategic Fund, Revenue Bonds (I-75 Improvement Project) Ser. P3

 

5.00

 

6/30/2033

 

3,900,000

 

4,263,558

 

Wayne County Airport Authority, Revenue Bonds, Ser. D

 

5.00

 

12/1/2045

 

1,000,000

 

1,095,920

 
 

14,900,268

 

Missouri - 1.9%

         

Kansas City Industrial Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

3/1/2044

 

1,250,000

 

1,378,200

 

Kansas City Industrial Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Ser. B

 

5.00

 

3/1/2054

 

3,060,000

 

3,337,940

 

16

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity Date

 

Principal Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 98.2% (continued)

         

Missouri - 1.9% (continued)

         

The Missouri Health & Educational Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (CoxHealth Obligated Group) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

11/15/2029

 

2,000,000

 

2,243,800

 
 

6,959,940

 

Multi-State - .4%

         

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Multifamily Variable Rate Certificate, Revenue Bonds, Ser. M048

 

3.15

 

1/15/2036

 

1,245,000

c

1,330,494

 

Nebraska - .6%

         

Public Power Generation Agency, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

1/1/2037

 

2,000,000

 

2,346,300

 

Nevada - .5%

         

Clark County, GO

 

5.00

 

11/1/2038

 

520,000

 

579,145

 

Reno, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Reno Transportation Rail Access Project)

 

5.00

 

6/1/2048

 

1,070,000

 

1,127,063

 
 

1,706,208

 

New Jersey - 5.3%

         

Essex County Improvement Authority, Revenue Bonds

 

5.25

 

7/1/2045

 

2,500,000

c

2,505,550

 

New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. NN

 

5.00

 

3/1/2028

 

1,000,000

 

1,015,100

 

New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. WW

 

5.25

 

6/15/2029

 

1,000,000

 

1,030,310

 

New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. WW

 

5.25

 

6/15/2031

 

2,100,000

 

2,145,780

 

New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. XX

 

5.25

 

6/15/2027

 

1,000,000

 

1,040,610

 

New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Stockton University) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

7/1/2041

 

1,000,000

 

1,054,190

 

New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, Revenue Bonds (Inspira Health Obligated Group)

 

5.00

 

7/1/2037

 

1,600,000

 

1,782,880

 

New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Revenue Bonds, Ser. BB

 

5.00

 

6/15/2044

 

2,000,000

 

1,975,140

 

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

6/1/2046

 

3,880,000

 

4,052,738

 

17

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity Date

 

Principal Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 98.2% (continued)

         

New Jersey - 5.3% (continued)

         

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

6/1/2036

 

2,000,000

 

2,244,860

 

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.25

 

6/1/2046

 

620,000

 

662,420

 
 

19,509,578

 

New York - 3.2%

         

New York Liberty Development Corp., Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Class 1-3 World Trade Center Project)

 

5.00

 

11/15/2044

 

2,500,000

c

2,397,675

 

New York Liberty Development Corp., Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Goldman Sachs Headquarters)

 

5.25

 

10/1/2035

 

1,000,000

 

1,249,030

 

New York State Dormitory Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

3/15/2035

 

3,000,000

 

3,433,440

 

New York State Thruway Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.) Ser. B

 

4.00

 

1/1/2050

 

1,335,000

 

1,385,837

 

New York Transportation Development Corp., Revenue Bonds (LaGuardia Airport Terminal B Redevelopment Project) Ser. A

 

5.25

 

1/1/2050

 

2,500,000

 

2,555,975

 

TSASC, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. B

 

5.00

 

6/1/2045

 

815,000

 

752,595

 
 

11,774,552

 

North Carolina - .3%

         

North Carolina Medical Care Commission, Revenue Bonds, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

1/1/2038

 

1,000,000

 

1,006,920

 

Ohio - 2.9%

         

Allen County Hospital Facilities, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Catholic Health Partners) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

5/1/2042

 

4,500,000

 

4,657,500

 

Buckeye Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A2

 

4.00

 

6/1/2048

 

3,500,000

 

3,511,445

 

Cuyahoga County, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (The MetroHealth System)

 

5.25

 

2/15/2047

 

1,000,000

 

1,043,800

 

Ohio, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Lease Appropriations-Adult Correctional Building Fund Projects) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

10/1/2037

 

1,430,000

 

1,690,446

 
 

10,903,191

 

18

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity Date

 

Principal Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 98.2% (continued)

         

Pennsylvania - 8.3%

         

Allegheny County Hospital Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (UPMC Obligated Group) Ser. A

 

4.00

 

7/15/2035

 

1,250,000

 

1,327,188

 

Allentown School District, GO, Refunding (Insured; Build America Mutual) Ser. B

 

5.00

 

2/1/2030

 

1,000,000

 

1,247,340

 

Commonwealth Financing Authority, Revenue Bonds

 

5.00

 

6/1/2030

 

2,000,000

 

2,320,820

 

Delaware Valley Regional Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Ser. C, 1 Month MUNIPSA +.53%

 

0.75

 

9/1/2023

 

3,000,000

a

2,968,050

 

Luzerne County Industrial Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Pennsylvania-American Water Co.)

 

2.45

 

12/3/2029

 

1,750,000

 

1,798,388

 

Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (ACTS Retirement-Life Communities Obligated Group)

 

5.00

 

11/15/2036

 

3,500,000

 

3,632,090

 

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. B

 

5.00

 

12/1/2022

 

700,000

e

775,348

 

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Revenue Bonds, Ser. A1

 

5.00

 

12/1/2036

 

3,250,000

 

3,776,272

 

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Revenue Bonds, Ser. B

 

5.25

 

12/1/2048

 

4,000,000

 

4,574,640

 

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Revenue Bonds, Ser. B

 

5.00

 

12/1/2022

 

3,045,000

e

3,372,764

 

The Philadelphia School District, GO (Insured; State Aid Withholding) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

9/1/2044

 

3,000,000

 

3,545,070

 

The Philadelphia School District, GO (Insured; State Aid Withholding) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

9/1/2038

 

1,000,000

 

1,180,340

 
 

30,518,310

 

Rhode Island - .5%

         

Providence Public Building Authority, Revenue Bonds (Insured; Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

9/15/2037

 

1,695,000

 

2,008,066

 

South Carolina - 1.4%

         

South Carolina Public Service Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Santee Cooper Project) Ser. B

 

5.13

 

12/1/2043

 

5,000,000

 

5,207,200

 

19

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity Date

 

Principal Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 98.2% (continued)

         

Tennessee - .3%

         

Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corp., Revenue Bonds

 

4.00

 

11/1/2025

 

1,000,000

 

1,064,010

 

Texas - 10.9%

         

Austin Water & Wastewater System, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

11/15/2043

 

3,305,000

 

3,620,661

 

Clifton Higher Education Finance Corp., Revenue Bonds, Refunding (IDEA Public Schools) (Insured; Permanent School Fund Guarantee Program)

 

5.00

 

8/15/2031

 

3,825,000

 

4,394,581

 

Clifton Higher Education Finance Corp., Revenue Bonds, Ser. D

 

5.75

 

8/15/2033

 

4,500,000

 

4,614,705

 

Collin County Community College District, GO, Ser. A

 

4.00

 

8/15/2034

 

2,500,000

 

2,891,425

 

Garland Electric Utility System, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

3/1/2044

 

1,500,000

 

1,782,120

 

Love Field Airport Modernization Corp., Revenue Bonds

 

5.00

 

11/1/2034

 

3,500,000

 

3,662,820

 

Love Field Airport Modernization Corp., Revenue Bonds (Southwest Airlines Project)

 

5.00

 

11/1/2022

 

2,000,000

 

1,997,680

 

Lower Colorado River Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

5/15/2039

 

3,000,000

 

3,258,060

 

Lower Colorado River Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (LCRA Transmission Services) Ser. A

 

4.00

 

5/15/2049

 

1,000,000

 

1,079,010

 

Lubbock Electric Light & Power System, Revenue Bonds

 

5.00

 

4/15/2048

 

2,475,000

 

2,889,513

 

Mission Economic Development Corp., Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Natgasoline Project)

 

4.63

 

10/1/2031

 

1,000,000

c

995,140

 

North Texas Tollway Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding

 

5.00

 

1/1/2048

 

1,000,000

 

1,107,160

 

North Texas Tollway Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

1/1/2039

 

4,000,000

 

4,408,640

 

San Antonio Electric & Gas Systems, Revenue Bonds

 

5.00

 

2/1/2043

 

3,500,000

 

3,756,060

 
 

40,457,575

 

U.S. Related - .4%

         

Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Insured; Assured Guaranty Corp.) Ser. L

 

5.25

 

7/1/2041

 

1,400,000

 

1,472,100

 

Utah - .9%

         

Salt Lake City Airport, Revenue Bonds, Ser. A

 

5.00

 

7/1/2034

 

3,000,000

 

3,356,430

 

20

 

                   
 

Description

Coupon
Rate (%)

 

Maturity Date

 

Principal Amount ($)

 

Value ($)

 

Long-Term Municipal Investments - 98.2% (continued)

         

Virginia - 1.7%

         

Virginia Public Building Authority, Revenue Bonds, Ser. A

 

4.00

 

8/1/2039

 

2,500,000

 

2,878,175

 

Virginia Small Business Financing Authority, Revenue Bonds (95 Express Lanes)

 

5.00

 

7/1/2034

 

1,700,000

 

1,707,344

 

Winchester Economic Development Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Valley Health System Obligated Group)

 

5.00

 

1/1/2035

 

1,560,000

 

1,737,091

 
 

6,322,610

 

Washington - 1.5%

         

Port of Seattle, Revenue Bonds

 

5.00

 

4/1/2029

 

2,380,000

 

2,809,090

 

Washington Convention Center Public Facilities District, Revenue Bonds

 

5.00

 

7/1/2058

 

2,450,000

 

2,846,238

 
 

5,655,328

 

West Virginia - 1.4%

         

West Virginia University, Revenue Bonds (West Virginia University Projects) Ser. B

 

5.00

 

10/1/2021

 

5,000,000

e

5,302,950

 

Wisconsin - .6%

         

Public Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Refunding (Renown Regional Medical Center) Ser. A

 

5.00

 

6/1/2040

 

2,000,000

 

2,145,460

 

Total Long-Term Municipal Investments
(cost $357,941,132)

 

362,953,596

 

Total Investments (cost $359,084,045)

 

98.4%

363,940,398

 

Cash and Receivables (Net)

 

1.6%

5,774,325

 

Net Assets

 

100.0%

369,714,723

 

a Variable rate security—rate shown is the interest rate in effect at period end.

b Zero coupon until a specified date at which time the stated coupon rate becomes effective until maturity.

c Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At April 30, 2020, these securities were valued at $14,588,176 or 3.95% of net assets.

d Security issued with a zero coupon. Income is recognized through the accretion of discount.

e These securities are prerefunded; the date shown represents the prerefunded date. Bonds which are prerefunded are collateralized by U.S. Government securities which are held in escrow and are used to pay principal and interest on the municipal issue and to retire the bonds in full at the earliest refunding date.

21

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

   

Portfolio Summary (Unaudited)

Value (%)

General

17.9

Medical

13.3

Airport

9.9

Education

9.0

Water

8.3

Transportation

6.6

Power

5.2

General Obligation

5.2

Tobacco Settlement

4.8

Development

3.1

Nursing Homes

3.0

Prerefunded

2.6

Utilities

2.5

School District

2.4

Facilities

1.8

Special Tax

1.2

Pollution

.7

Multifamily Housing

.6

Student Loan

.3

 

98.4

 Based on net assets.

See notes to financial statements.

22

 

       
 

Summary of Abbreviations (Unaudited)

 

ABAG

Association of Bay Area Governments

ACA

American Capital Access

AGC

ACE Guaranty Corporation

AGIC

Asset Guaranty Insurance Company

AMBAC

American Municipal Bond Assurance Corporation

ARRN

Adjustable Rate Receipt Notes

BAN

Bond Anticipation Notes

BPA

Bond Purchase Agreement

CIFG

CDC Ixis Financial Guaranty

COP

Certificate of Participation

CP

Commercial Paper

DRIVERS

Derivative Inverse Tax-Exempt Receipts

EDR

Economic Development Revenue

EIR

Environmental Improvement Revenue

EFFE

Effective Federal Funds Rate

EURIBOR

Euro Interbank Offered Rate

FCPR

Farm Credit Prime Rate

FGIC

Financial Guaranty Insurance Company

FHA

Federal Housing Administration

FHLB

Federal Home Loan Bank

FHLMC

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation

FNMA

Federal National Mortgage Association

GAN

Grant Anticipation Notes

GIC

Guaranteed Investment Contract

GNMA

Government National Mortgage Association

GO

General Obligation

HR

Hospital Revenue

IDB

Industrial Development Board

IDC

Industrial Development Corporation

IDR

Industrial Development Revenue

LIBOR

London Interbank Offered Rate

LIFERS

Long Inverse Floating Exempt Receipts

LOC

Letter of Credit

LOR

Limited Obligation Revenue

LR

Lease Revenue

NAN

Note Anticipation Notes

MERLOTS

Municipal Exempt Receipts Liquidity Option Tender

MFHR

Multi-Family Housing Revenue

MFMR

Multi-Family Mortgage Revenue

MUNIPSA

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Municipal Swap Index Yield

PCR

Pollution Control Revenue

P-FLOATS

Puttable Floating Option Tax-Exempt Receipts

PILOT

Payment in Lieu of Taxes

PRIME

Prime Lending Rate

PUTTERS

Puttable Tax-Exempt Receipts

OBFR

Overnight Bank Funding Rate

RAC

Revenue Anticipation Certificates

RAN

Revenue Anticipation Notes

RAW

Revenue Anticipation Warrants

RIB

Residual Interest Bonds

ROCS

Reset Options Certificates

RRR

Resources Recovery Revenue

SAAN

State Aid Anticipation Notes

SBPA

Standby Bond Purchase Agreement

SFHR

Single Family Housing Revenue

SFMR

Single Family Mortgage Revenue

SOFR

Secured Overnight Financing Rate

SONYMA

State of New York Mortgage Agency

SPEARS

Short Puttable Exempt Adjustable Receipts

SWDR

Solid Waste Disposal Revenue

TAN

Tax Anticipation Notes

TAW

Tax Anticipation Warrants

TRAN

Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes

XLCA

XL Capital Assurance

See notes to financial statements.

23

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

April 30, 2020

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Assets ($):

 

 

 

 

Investments in securities—See Statement of Investments

359,084,045

 

363,940,398

 

Cash

 

 

 

 

544,018

 

Interest receivable

 

4,951,588

 

Receivable for shares of Beneficial Interest subscribed

 

856,697

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

 

 

47,068

 

 

 

 

 

 

370,339,769

 

Liabilities ($):

 

 

 

 

Due to BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. and affiliates—Note 3(c)

 

188,137

 

Payable for shares of Beneficial Interest redeemed

 

352,207

 

Trustees’ fees and expenses payable

 

2,901

 

Other accrued expenses

 

 

 

 

81,801

 

 

 

 

 

 

625,046

 

Net Assets ($)

 

 

369,714,723

 

Composition of Net Assets ($):

 

 

 

 

Paid-in capital

 

 

 

 

364,347,491

 

Total distributable earnings (loss)

 

 

 

 

5,367,232

 

Net Assets ($)

 

 

369,714,723

 

             

Net Asset Value Per Share

Class A

Class C

Class I

Class Y

Class Z

 

Net Assets ($)

145,636,277

4,980,100

55,013,355

39,712

164,045,279

 

Shares Outstanding

11,540,011

393,684

4,358,089

3,147

12,998,169

 

Net Asset Value Per Share ($)

12.62

12.65

12.62

12.62

12.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

24

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended April 30, 2020

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Income ($):

 

 

 

 

Interest Income

 

 

12,769,363

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

Management fee—Note 3(a)

 

 

1,286,512

 

Shareholder servicing costs—Note 3(c)

 

 

903,207

 

Professional fees

 

 

96,494

 

Registration fees

 

 

92,523

 

Distribution fees—Note 3(b)

 

 

41,343

 

Trustees’ fees and expenses—Note 3(d)

 

 

27,505

 

Prospectus and shareholders’ reports

 

 

22,464

 

Chief Compliance Officer fees—Note 3(c)

 

 

12,994

 

Loan commitment fees—Note 2

 

 

10,172

 

Custodian fees—Note 3(c)

 

 

7,555

 

Miscellaneous

 

 

27,868

 

Total Expenses

 

 

2,528,637

 

Less—reduction in fees due to earnings credits—Note 3(c)

 

 

(7,555)

 

Net Expenses

 

 

2,521,082

 

Investment Income—Net

 

 

10,248,281

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments—Note 4 ($):

 

 

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

472,055

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

(10,340,450)

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

 

 

(9,868,395)

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

 

379,886

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

         

25

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

                   

 

 

 

 

Year Ended April 30,

 

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

 

Operations ($):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income—net

 

 

10,248,281

 

 

 

10,281,117

 

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

 

472,055

 

 

 

2,476,450

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation
(depreciation) on investments

 

(10,340,450)

 

 

 

6,561,615

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Resulting from Operations

379,886

 

 

 

19,319,182

 

Distributions ($):

 

Distributions to shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

 

(4,106,973)

 

 

 

(4,363,195)

 

Class C

 

 

(108,667)

 

 

 

(123,286)

 

Class I

 

 

(1,111,376)

 

 

 

(604,493)

 

Class Y

 

 

(1,245)

 

 

 

(869)

 

Class Z

 

 

(4,913,056)

 

 

 

(5,295,246)

 

Total Distributions

 

 

(10,241,317)

 

 

 

(10,387,089)

 

Beneficial Interest Transactions ($):

 

Net proceeds from shares sold:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

 

16,133,068

 

 

 

6,183,454

 

Class C

 

 

761,938

 

 

 

1,103,622

 

Class I

 

 

49,488,576

 

 

 

17,255,365

 

Class Y

 

 

-

 

 

 

30,000

 

Class Z

 

 

2,679,670

 

 

 

2,852,938

 

Distributions reinvested:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

 

3,410,039

 

 

 

3,599,588

 

Class C

 

 

89,303

 

 

 

97,941

 

Class I

 

 

1,102,404

 

 

 

599,485

 

Class Z

 

 

3,975,029

 

 

 

4,255,343

 

Cost of shares redeemed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

 

(17,200,444)

 

 

 

(17,922,801)

 

Class C

 

 

(1,564,879)

 

 

 

(1,348,654)

 

Class I

 

 

(19,780,879)

 

 

 

(5,776,431)

 

Class Z

 

 

(14,001,432)

 

 

 

(17,191,619)

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
from Beneficial Interest Transactions

25,092,393

 

 

 

(6,261,769)

 

Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

15,230,962

 

 

 

2,670,324

 

Net Assets ($):

 

Beginning of Period

 

 

354,483,761

 

 

 

351,813,437

 

End of Period

 

 

369,714,723

 

 

 

354,483,761

 

26

 

                   

 

 

 

 

Year Ended April 30,

 

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

 

Capital Share Transactions (Shares):

 

Class Aa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares sold

 

 

1,221,313

 

 

 

488,547

 

Shares issued for distributions reinvested

 

 

258,488

 

 

 

283,746

 

Shares redeemed

 

 

(1,302,789)

 

 

 

(1,414,144)

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

177,012

 

 

 

(641,851)

 

Class Ca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares sold

 

 

58,104

 

 

 

87,229

 

Shares issued for distributions reinvested

 

 

6,753

 

 

 

7,700

 

Shares redeemed

 

 

(118,535)

 

 

 

(106,503)

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

(53,678)

 

 

 

(11,574)

 

Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares sold

 

 

3,763,200

 

 

 

1,370,633

 

Shares issued for distributions reinvested

 

 

83,641

 

 

 

47,198

 

Shares redeemed

 

 

(1,539,802)

 

 

 

(457,311)

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

2,307,039

 

 

 

960,520

 

Class Y

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares sold

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,400

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

-

 

 

 

2,400

 

Class Z

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares sold

 

 

202,835

 

 

 

225,215

 

Shares issued for distributions reinvested

 

 

301,251

 

 

 

335,413

 

Shares redeemed

 

 

(1,063,696)

 

 

 

(1,357,812)

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

(559,610)

 

 

 

(797,184)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

aDuring the period ended April 30, 2020, 454 Class C shares representing $6,007 were automatically converted for 456 Class A shares and during the period ended April 30, 2019, 1,768 Class C shares representing $22,448 were automatically converted for 1,772 Class A shares.

 

See notes to financial statements.

               

27

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following tables describe the performance for each share class for the fiscal periods indicated. All information (except portfolio turnover rate) reflects financial results for a single fund share. Total return shows how much your investment in the fund would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming you had reinvested all dividends and distributions. These figures have been derived from the fund’s financial statements.

                   
           
   
 

Year Ended April 30,

Class A Shares

 

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Per Share Data ($):

           

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

12.93

12.60

12.76

13.24

12.96

Investment Operations:

           

Investment income—neta

 

.36

.37

.38

.39

.42

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

 

(.31)

.34

(.16)

(.48)

.28

Total from Investment Operations

 

.05

.71

.22

(.09)

.70

Distributions:

           

Dividends from investment
income—net

 

(.36)

(.37)

(.38)

(.39)

(.42)

Dividends from net realized
gain on investments

 

(.01)

Total Distributions

 

(.36)

(.38)

(.38)

(.39)

(.42)

Net asset value, end of period

 

12.62

12.93

12.60

12.76

13.24

Total Return (%)b

 

.32

5.70

1.72

(.70)

5.52

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

           

Ratio of total expenses
to average net assets

 

.73

.86

.93

.94

.92

Ratio of net expenses
to average net assets

 

.73

.86

.93

.94

.92

Ratio of interest and expense related
to floating rate notes issued
to average net assets

 

.00c

Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets

 

2.75

2.94

2.97

2.99

3.27

Portfolio Turnover Rate

 

21.90

27.39

26.94

20.93

18.85

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

 

145,636

146,875

151,312

165,492

183,052

a Based on average shares outstanding.

b Exclusive of sales charge.

c Amount represents less than .01%.

See notes to financial statements.

28

 

                     
           
   
 

Year Ended April 30,

Class C Shares

 

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Per Share Data ($):

           

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

12.96

12.63

12.79

13.27

12.99

Investment Operations:

           

Investment income—neta

 

.26

.27

.28

.29

.33

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

 

(.31)

.34

(.16)

(.48)

.28

Total from Investment Operations

 

(.05)

.61

.12

(.19)

.61

Distributions:

           

Dividends from investment
income—net

 

(.26)

(.27)

(.28)

(.29)

(.33)

Dividends from net realized
gain on investments

 

(.01)

Total Distributions

 

(.26)

(.28)

(.28)

(.29)

(.33)

Net asset value, end of period

 

12.65

12.96

12.63

12.79

13.27

Total Return (%)b

 

(.46)

4.87

.94

(1.45)

4.74

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

           

Ratio of total expenses
to average net assets

 

1.51

1.65

1.70

1.71

1.69

Ratio of net expenses
to average net assets

 

1.51

1.65

1.70

1.71

1.69

Ratio of interest and expense related
to floating rate notes issued to
average net assets

 

.00c

Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets

 

1.97

2.15

2.20

2.23

2.53

Portfolio Turnover Rate

 

21.90

27.39

26.94

20.93

18.85

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

 

4,980

5,796

5,798

9,736

10,307

a Based on average shares outstanding.

b Exclusive of sales charge.

c Amount represents less than .01%.

See notes to financial statements.

29

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

                 
           
         
   

Year Ended April 30,

Class I Shares

   

2020

2019

2018

2017a

Per Share Data ($):

           

Net asset value, beginning of period

   

12.93

12.61

12.77

13.39

Investment Operations:

           

Investment income—netb

   

.39

.40

.40

.24

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

   

(.30)

.33

(.15)

(.58)

Total from Investment Operations

   

.09

.73

.25

(.34)

Distributions:

           

Dividends from investment income—net

   

(.40)

(.40)

(.41)

(.28)

Dividends from net realized gain on investments

   

(.01)

Total Distributions

   

(.40)

(.41)

(.41)

(.28)

Net asset value, end of period

   

12.62

12.93

12.61

12.77

Total Return (%)

   

.57

5.88

1.96

(2.56)c

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

           

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

   

.48

.62

.70

.75d

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

   

.48

.62

.70

.75d

Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets

   

2.97

3.17

3.19

3.35d

Portfolio Turnover Rate

   

21.90

27.39

26.94

20.93

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

   

55,013

26,521

13,751

5,393

a From August 31, 2016 (commencement of initial offering) to April 30, 2017.

b Based on average shares outstanding.

c Not annualized.

d Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

30

 

                   
       
       
   

Year Ended April 30,

Class Y Shares

     

2020

2019

2018

2017a

Per Share Data ($):

             

Net asset value, beginning of period

     

12.93

12.61

12.77

13.39

Investment Operations:

             

Investment income—netb

     

.40

.42

.41

.25

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

     

(.31)

.31

(.17)

(.63)

Total from Investment Operations

     

.09

.73

.24

(.38)

Distributions:

             

Dividends from investment
income—net

     

(.40)

(.40)

(.40)

(.24)

Dividends from net realized
gain on investments

     

(.01)

Total Distributions

     

(.40)

(.41)

(.40)

(.24)

Net asset value, end of period

     

12.62

12.93

12.61

12.77

Total Return (%)

     

.57

5.85

1.93

(2.87)c

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

             

Ratio of total expenses
to average net assets

     

.47

.62

.70

.86d

Ratio of net expenses
to average net assets

     

.47

.62

.70

.86d

Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets

     

3.00

3.22

3.17

2.90d

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     

21.90

27.39

26.94

20.93

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

     

40

41

9

10

a From August 31, 2016 (commencement of initial offering) to April 30, 2017.

b Based on average shares outstanding.

c Not annualized.

d Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

31

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

                     
           
   
 

Year Ended April 30,

Class Z Shares

 

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Per Share Data ($):

           

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

12.93

12.60

12.76

13.24

12.96

Investment Operations:

           

Investment income—neta

 

.37

.38

.39

.40

.43

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

 

(.31)

.34

(.16)

(.49)

.28

Total from Investment Operations

 

.06

.72

.23

(.09)

.71

Distributions:

           

Dividends from investment
income—net

 

(.37)

(.38)

(.39)

(.39)

(.43)

Dividends from net realized
gain on investments

 

(.01)

Total Distributions

 

(.37)

(.39)

(.39)

(.39)

(.43)

Net asset value, end of period

 

12.62

12.93

12.60

12.76

13.24

Total Return (%)

 

.37

5.75

1.79

(.65)

5.57

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

           

Ratio of total expenses
to average net assets

 

.67

.81

.87

.89

.87

Ratio of net expenses
to average net assets

 

.67

.81

.87

.89

.87

Ratio of interest and expense
related to floating rate notes
issued to average net assets

 

.00b

Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets

 

2.81

2.99

3.03

3.05

3.32

Portfolio Turnover Rate

 

21.90

27.39

26.94

20.93

18.85

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

 

164,045

175,252

180,942

199,730

215,695

a Based on average shares outstanding.

b Amount represents less than .01%.

See notes to financial statements.

32

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1—Significant Accounting Policies:

BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund (the “fund”), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), is a diversified open-ended management investment company. The fund’s investment objective is to seek to maximize current income exempt from federal income tax to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital. BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. (the “Adviser”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (“BNY Mellon”), serves as the fund’s investment adviser.

Effective June 3, 2019, the fund changed its name from Dreyfus Municipal Bond Opportunity Fund to BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund. In addition, The Dreyfus Corporation, the fund’s investment adviser, changed its name to “BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.”, MBSC Securities Corporation, the fund’s distributor, changed its name to “BNY Mellon Securities Corporation” and Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., the fund’s transfer agent, changed its name to “BNY Mellon Transfer, Inc.”

The fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) approved, effective December 31, 2019 (the “Effective Date”), the termination of the fund’s authorized Class T shares. Prior to the Effective Date, the fund did not offer such Class T shares for purchase.

BNY Mellon Securities Corporation (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, is the distributor of the fund’s shares. The fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of $.001 par value shares of Beneficial Interest in each of the following classes of shares: Class A, Class C, Class I, Class Y and Class Z. Class A shares generally are subject to a sales charge imposed at the time of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) imposed on Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase. Class C shares automatically convert to Class A shares ten years after the date of purchase, without the imposition of a sales charge. Class I and Class Y shares are sold at net asset value per share generally to institutional investors. Class Z shares are sold at net asset value per share to certain shareholders of the fund. Class Z shares generally are not available for new accounts. Other differences between the classes include the services offered to and the expenses borne by each class, the allocation of certain transfer agency costs, and certain voting rights. Income, expenses (other than expenses attributable to a specific class), and realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments are allocated to each class of shares based on its relative net assets.

33

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

As of April 30, 2020, MBC Investments Corp., an indirect subsidiary of BNY Mellon, held all of outstanding shares of Class Y shares of the fund.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) is the exclusive reference of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under authority of federal laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. The fund is an investment company and applies the accounting and reporting guidance of the FASB ASC Topic 946 Financial Services-Investment Companies. The fund’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP, which may require the use of management estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. The fund does not anticipate recognizing any loss related to these arrangements.

(a) Portfolio valuation: The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., the exit price). GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs of valuation techniques used to measure fair value. This hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

Additionally, GAAP provides guidance on determining whether the volume and activity in a market has decreased significantly and whether such a decrease in activity results in transactions that are not orderly. GAAP requires enhanced disclosures around valuation inputs and techniques used during annual and interim periods.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s investments relating to fair value measurements. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

Level 1—unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments.

Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).

34

 

Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. Valuation techniques used to value the fund’s investments are as follows:

Investments in securities are valued each business day by an independent pricing service (the “Service”) approved by the fund’s Board. Investments for which quoted bid prices are readily available and are representative of the bid side of the market in the judgment of the Service are valued at the mean between the quoted bid prices (as obtained by the Service from dealers in such securities) and asked prices (as calculated by the Service based upon its evaluation of the market for such securities). Debt investments (which constitute a majority of the portfolio securities) are carried at fair value as determined by the Service, based on methods which include consideration of the following: yields or prices of municipal securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to values from dealers; and general market conditions. All of the preceding securities are generally categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The Service is engaged under the general oversight of the Board.

When market quotations or official closing prices are not readily available, or are determined not to accurately reflect fair value, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, but before the fund calculates its net asset value, the fund may value these investments at fair value as determined in accordance with the procedures approved by the Board. Certain factors may be considered when fair valuing investments such as: fundamental analytical data, the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition, an evaluation of the forces that influence the market in which the securities are purchased and sold, and public trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable issuers. These securities are either categorized within Level 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy depending on the relevant inputs used.

For securities where observable inputs are limited, assumptions about market activity and risk are used and such securities are generally categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

35

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of April 30, 2020 in valuing the fund’s investments:

         

Assets ($)

Level 1 - Unadjusted Quoted Prices

Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs

Level 3 - Significant Unobservable Inputs

Total

Investments in Securities:

     

Collateralized Municipal-Backed
Securities

986,802

986,802

Municipal Securities

362,953,596

362,953,596

See Statement of Investments for additional detailed categorizations, if any. 

(b) Securities transactions and investment income: Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Interest income, adjusted for accretion of discount and amortization of premium on investments, is earned from settlement date and recognized on the accrual basis. Securities purchased or sold on a when issued or delayed delivery basis may be settled a month or more after the trade date.

(c) Risk: Certain events particular to the industries in which the fund’s investments conduct their operations, as well as general economic, political and public health conditions, may have a significant negative impact on the investee’s operations and profitability. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the fund. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies world-wide.  Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken world-wide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. To the extent the fund may overweight its investments in certain countries, companies, industries or market sectors, such positions will increase the fund’s exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those countries, companies, industries or sectors.

(d) Dividends and distributions to shareholders: It is the policy of the fund to declare dividends daily from investment income-net. Such

36

 

dividends are paid monthly. Dividends from net realized capital gains, if any, are normally declared and paid annually, but the fund may make distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To the extent that net realized capital gains can be offset by capital loss carryovers, it is the policy of the fund not to distribute such gains. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

(e) Federal income taxes: It is the policy of the fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company, which can distribute tax-exempt dividends, by complying with the applicable provisions of the Code, and to make distributions of income and net realized capital gain sufficient to relieve it from substantially all federal income and excise taxes.

As of and during the period ended April 30, 2020, the fund did not have any liabilities for any uncertain tax positions. The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. During the period ended April 30, 2020, the fund did not incur any interest or penalties.

Each tax year in the four-year period ended April 30, 2020 remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities.

At April 30, 2020, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows: undistributed tax-exempt income $698,216, undistributed ordinary income $20,858, undistributed capital gains $802,325 and unrealized appreciation $4,540,997.

The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal periods ended April 30, 2020 and April 30, 2019 were as follows: tax-exempt income $10,241,317 and $10,202,806, and ordinary income $0 and $184,283, respectively.

During the period ended April 30, 2020, as a result of permanent book to tax differences, primarily due to the tax treatment for amortization adjustments, the fund decreased total distributable earnings (loss) by $3,900 and increased paid-in capital by the same amount. Net assets and net asset value per share were not affected by this reclassification.

(f) New Accounting Pronouncements: Effective June 1, 2019, the fund adopted Accounting Standards Update 2017-08, Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization On Purchased Callable Debt Securities (“ASU 2017-08”).

37

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

The update shortens the amortization period for the premium on certain purchased callable debt securities to the earliest call date.

Also effective June 1, 2019, the fund adopted Accounting Standards Update 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). The update provides guidance that modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The adoption of ASU 2017-08 and ASU 2018-13 had no impact on the operations of the fund for the period ended April 30, 2020.

NOTE 2—Bank Lines of Credit:

The fund participates with other long-term open-end funds managed by the Adviser in a $927 million unsecured credit facility led by Citibank, N.A. (the “Citibank Credit Facility”) and a $300 million unsecured credit facility provided by The Bank of New York Mellon (the “BNYM Credit Facility”), a subsidiary of BNY Mellon and an affiliate of the Adviser, each to be utilized primarily for temporary or emergency purposes, including the financing of redemptions (each, a “Facility”). The Citibank Credit Facility is available in two tranches: (i) Tranche A is in an amount equal to $747 million and is available to all long-term open-ended funds, including the fund, and (ii) Tranche B is an amount equal to $180 million and is available only to BNY Mellon Floating Rate Income Fund, a series of BNY Mellon Investment Funds IV, Inc. Prior to March 11, 2020, the Citibank Credit Facility was $1.030 billion with Tranche A available in an amount equal to $830 million and Tranche B available in an amount equal to $200 million. In connection therewith, the fund has agreed to pay its pro rata portion of commitment fees for Tranche A of the Citibank Credit Facility and the BNYM Credit Facility. Interest is charged to the fund based on rates determined pursuant to the terms of the respective Facility at the time of borrowing. During the period ended April 30, 2020, the fund did not borrow under the Facilities.

NOTE 3—Management Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates:

(a) Pursuant to a management agreement with the Adviser, the management fee is computed at the annual rate of .35% of the value of the fund’s average daily net assets and is payable monthly.

During the period ended April 30, 2020, the Distributor retained $1,951 from commissions earned on sales of the fund’s Class A shares and $30 from CDSC fees on redemptions of the fund’s Class C shares.

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(b) Under the Distribution Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, Class C shares pay the Distributor for distributing its shares at an annual rate of .75% of the value of its average daily net assets. During the period ended April 30, 2020, Class C shares were charged $41,343 pursuant to the Distribution Plan.

(c) Under the Shareholder Services Plan, Class A and Class C shares pay the Distributor at an annual rate of .25% of the value of their average daily net assets and Class Z shares reimburse the Distributor at an annual rate of .20% of the value of its average daily net assets for the provision of certain services. The services provided may include personal services relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries regarding the fund and providing reports and other information, and services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The Distributor may make payments to Service Agents (securities dealers, financial institutions or other industry professionals) with respect to these services. The Distributor determines the amounts to be paid to Service Agents. During the period ended April 30, 2020, Class A, Class C and Class Z shares were charged $373,534, $13,781 and $350,567, respectively, pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan.

The fund has arrangements with the transfer agent and the custodian whereby the fund may receive earnings credits when positive cash balances are maintained, which are used to offset transfer agency and custody fees. For financial reporting purposes, the fund includes net earnings credits, if any, as an expense offset in the Statement of Operations.

The fund compensates BNY Mellon Transfer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a transfer agency agreement for providing transfer agency and cash management services for the fund. The majority of transfer agency fees are comprised of amounts paid on a per account basis, while cash management fees are related to fund subscriptions and redemptions. During the period ended April 30, 2020, the fund was charged $82,121 for transfer agency services. These fees are included in Shareholder servicing costs in the Statement of Operations.

The fund compensates The Bank of New York Mellon under a custody agreement for providing custodial services for the fund. These fees are determined based on net assets, geographic region and transaction activity. During the period ended April 30, 2020, the fund was charged $7,555 pursuant to the custody agreement. These fees were offset by earnings credits of $7,555.

The fund compensates The Bank of New York Mellon under a shareholder redemption draft processing agreement for providing certain

39

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

services related to the fund’s check writing privilege. During the period ended April 30, 2020, the fund was charged $4,346 pursuant to the agreement, which is included in Shareholder servicing costs in the Statement of Operations.

During the period ended April 30, 2020, the fund was charged $12,994 for services performed by the Chief Compliance Officer and his staff. These fees are included in Chief Compliance Officer fees in the Statement of Operations.

The components of “Due to BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. and affiliates” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities consist of: management fees of $106,134, Distribution Plan fees of $3,035, Shareholder Services Plan fees of $58,266, custodian fees of $2,495, Chief Compliance Officer fees of $4,438 and transfer agency fees of $13,769.

(d) Each Board member also serves as a Board member of other funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds complex. Annual retainer fees and attendance fees are allocated to each fund based on net assets.

NOTE 4—Securities Transactions:

The aggregate amount of purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, during the period ended April 30, 2020, amounted to $105,199,142 and $79,988,500, respectively.

At April 30, 2020, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $359,399,401; accordingly, accumulated net unrealized appreciation on investments was $4,540,997, consisting of $10,414,181 gross unrealized appreciation and $5,873,184 gross unrealized depreciation.

40

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Trustees of BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund (the “Fund”), including the statement of investments, as of April 30, 2020, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund at April 30, 2020, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2020, by correspondence with the custodian and others or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from others were not received. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds since at least 1957, but we are unable to determine the specific year.

New York, New York
June 25, 2020

41

 

IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited)

In accordance with federal tax law, the fund hereby reports all the dividends paid from investment income-net during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2020 as “exempt-interest dividends” (not generally subject to regular federal income tax). Where required by federal tax law rules, shareholders will receive notification of their portion of the Fund’s taxable ordinary dividends (if any), capital gains distributions (if any) and tax-exempt dividends paid for the 2020 calendar year on Form 1099-DIV which will be mailed in early 2021.

42

 

BOARD MEMBERS INFORMATION (Unaudited)

INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBERS

Joseph S. DiMartino (76)

Chairman of the Board (1995)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Director or Trustee of funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds and certain other entities (as described in the fund’s Statement of Additional Information) (1995-Present)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· CBIZ, Inc., a public company providing professional business services, products and solutions, Director (1997-Present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 114

———————

Francine J. Bovich (68)

Board Member (2012)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Trustee, The Bradley Trusts, private trust funds (2011-Present)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· Annaly Capital Management, Inc., a real estate investment trust, Director (2014-Present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 68

———————

Peggy C. Davis (77)

Board Member (1990)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Shad Professor of Law, New York University School of Law (1983-present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 40

———————

Nathan Leventhal (77)

Board Member (1989)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· President Emeritus of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (2001-Present)

· President of the Palm Beach Opera (2016-Present)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· Movado Group, Inc., a public company that designs, markets and distributes watches, Director (2003-Present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 46

———————

43

 

BOARD MEMBERS INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)
INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBERS (continued)

Robin A. Melvin (56)

Board Member (2012)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Co-chairman, Mentor Illinois, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the quantity and quality of mentoring services in Illinois (2014-Present); Board member (2013-Present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 92

———————

Once elected all Board Members serve for an indefinite term, but achieve Emeritus status upon reaching age 80. The address of the Board Members and Officers is c/o BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286. Additional information about the Board Member is available in the fund’s Statement of Additional Information which can be obtained from the Adviser free of charge by calling this toll free number: 1-800-373-9387.

Clifford L. Alexander, Jr., Emeritus Board Member
Diane Dunst, Emeritus Board Member
Ernest Kafka, Emeritus Board Member

44

 

OFFICERS OF THE FUND (Unaudited)

RENEE LAROCHE-MORRIS, President since May 2019.

President and a director of BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. since January 2018. She is an officer of 62 investment companies (comprised of 114 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. She is 48 years old and has been an employee of BNY Mellon since 2003.

JAMES WINDELS, Treasurer since November 2001.

Director-BNY Mellon Fund Administration, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. He is 61 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since April 1985.

BENNETT A. MACDOUGALL, Chief Legal Officer since October 2015.

Chief Legal Officer of the Adviser and Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of BNY Mellon since June 2015; Director and Associate General Counsel of Deutsche Bank–Asset & Wealth Management Division from June 2005 to June 2015, and as Chief Legal Officer of Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. from June 2012 to May 2015. He is an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. He is 48 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since June 2015.

DAVID DIPETRILLO, Vice President since May 2019.

Head of North America Product, BNY Mellon Investment Management since January 2018, Director of Product Strategy, BNY Mellon Investment Management from January 2016 to December 2017; Head of US Retail Product and Channel Marketing, BNY Mellon Investment Management from January 2014 to December 2015. He is an officer of 63 investment companies (comprised of 122 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. He is 42 years old and has been an employee of BNY Mellon since 2005.

JAMES BITETTO, Vice President since August 2005 and Secretary since February 2018.

Senior Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon since December 2019; Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon from April 2014 to December 2019; Secretary of the Adviser, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. He is 53 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since December 1996.

SONALEE CROSS, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since March 2018.

Counsel of BNY Mellon since October 2016; Associate at Proskauer Rose LLP from April 2016 to September 2016; Attorney at EnTrust Capital from August 2015 to February 2016; Associate at Sidley Austin LLP from September 2013 to August 2015. She is an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. She is 32 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since October 2016.

DEIRDRE CUNNANE, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since March 2019.

Counsel of BNY Mellon since August 2018; Senior Regulatory Specialist at BNY Mellon Investment Management Services from February 2016 to August 2018; Trustee Associate at BNY Mellon Trust Company (Ireland) Limited from August 2013 to February 2016. She is an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. She is 29 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since August 2018.

SARAH S. KELLEHER, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since April 2014.

Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon since December 2017, Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon from March 2013 to December 2017. She is an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. She is 44 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since March 2013.

JEFF PRUSNOFSKY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005.

Senior Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. He is 54 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since October 1990.

PETER M. SULLIVAN, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since March 2019.

Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. He is 52 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since April 2004.

45

 

OFFICERS OF THE FUND (Unaudited) (continued)

AMANDA QUINN, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since March 2020.

Counsel of BNY Mellon since June 2019; Regulatory Administration Manager at BNY Mellon Investment Management Services from September 2018 to May 2019; Senior Regulatory Specialist at BNY Mellon Investment Management Services from April 2015 to August 2018. She is an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. She is 35 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since June 2019.

NATALYA ZELENSKY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since March 2017.

Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon since December 2019; Counsel of BNY Mellon from May 2016 to December 2019; Attorney at Wildermuth Endowment Strategy Fund/Wildermuth Advisory, LLC from November 2015 to May 2016 and Assistant General Counsel at RCS Advisory Services from July 2014 to November 2015. She is an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. She is 34 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since May 2016.

GAVIN C. REILLY, Assistant Treasurer since December 2005.

Tax Manager-BNY Mellon Fund Administration, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. He is 51 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since April 1991.

ROBERT S. ROBOL, Assistant Treasurer since August 2005.

Senior Accounting Manager-BNY Mellon Fund Administration, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. He is 56 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since October 1988.

ROBERT SALVIOLO, Assistant Treasurer since July 2007.

Senior Accounting Manager–BNY Mellon Fund Administration, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. He is 53 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since June 1989.

ROBERT SVAGNA, Assistant Treasurer since August 2005.

Senior Accounting Manager–BNY Mellon Fund Administration, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 145 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. He is 53 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since November 1990.

JOSEPH W. CONNOLLY, Chief Compliance Officer since October 2004.

Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser, the BNY Mellon Family of Funds and BNY Mellon Funds Trust (63 investment companies, comprised of 137 portfolios). He is 62 years old and has served in various capacities with the Adviser since 1980, including manager of the firm’s Fund Accounting Department from 1997 through October 2001.

CARIDAD M. CAROSELLA, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer since January 2016.

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of the BNY Mellon Family of Funds and BNY Mellon Funds Trust since January 2016; from May 2015 to December 2015, Interim Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of the BNY Mellon Family of Funds and BNY Mellon Funds Trust and the Distributor; from January 2012 to May 2015, AML Surveillance Officer of the Distributor. She is an officer of 57 investment companies (comprised of 138 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. She is 51 years old and has been an employee of the Distributor since 1997.

46

 

NOTES

47

 

NOTES

48

 

NOTES

49

 

For More Information

BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund

240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286

Adviser

BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286

Transfer Agent &
Dividend Disbursing Agent

BNY Mellon Transfer, Inc.
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286

Distributor

BNY Mellon Securities Corporation
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286

   

Ticker Symbols:

Class A: PTEBX Class C: DMBCX Class I: DMBVX

Class Y: DMBYX Class Z: DMBZX

Telephone Call your financial representative or 1-800-373-9387

Mail The BNY Mellon Family of Funds, 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, NY 11556-0144

E-mail Send your request to info@bnymellon.com

Internet Information can be viewed online or downloaded at www.bnymellonim.com/us

The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. The fund’s Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

A description of the policies and procedures that the fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how the fund voted these proxies for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available at www.bnymellonim.com/us and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-373-9387.

   

© 2020 BNY Mellon Securities Corporation
0022AR0420

 


 

 

Item 2.             Code of Ethics.

The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions.  There have been no amendments to, or waivers in connection with, the Code of Ethics during the period covered by this Report.

Item 3.             Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The Registrant's Board has determined that Joseph S. DiMartino, a member of the Audit Committee of the Board, is an audit committee financial expert as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").  Mr. DiMartino is "independent" as defined by the SEC for purposes of audit committee financial expert determinations.

Item 4.             Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

(a)  Audit Fees.  The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years (the "Reporting Periods") for professional services rendered by the Registrant's principal accountant (the "Auditor") for the audit of the Registrant's annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the Auditor in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the Reporting Periods, were $36,470 in 2019 and $37,494 in 2020.

 

(b)  Audit-Related Fees.  The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for assurance and related services by the Auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant's financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item 4 were $6,807 in 2019 and $9,615 in 2020.  These services consisted of one or more of the following: (i) agreed upon procedures related to compliance with Internal Revenue Code section 817(h), (ii) security counts required by Rule 17f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (iii) advisory services as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of Registrant transactions or events and (iv) advisory services to the accounting or disclosure treatment of the actual or potential impact to the Registrant of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Accounting Standards Boards or other regulatory or standard-setting bodies.

 

The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for non-audit assurance and related services by the Auditor to the Registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-investment adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant ("Service Affiliates"), that were reasonably related to the performance of the annual audit of the Service Affiliate, which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee were $0 in 2019 and $0 in 2020.

 

(c)  Tax Fees.  The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for professional services rendered by the Auditor for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning ("Tax Services") were $3,478 in 2019 and $3,177 in 2020.  These services consisted of: (i) review or preparation of U.S. federal, state, local and excise tax returns; (ii) U.S. federal, state and local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments; (iii) tax advice regarding tax qualification matters and/or treatment of various financial instruments held or proposed to be acquired or held, and (iv) determination of Passive Foreign Investment Companies.  The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for Tax Services by the Auditor to Service Affiliates, which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee were $0 in 2019 and $0 in 2020.

 


 

(d)  All Other Fees.  The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for products and services provided by the Auditor, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item, were $1,190 in 2019 and $1,188 in 2020.  These services consisted of a review of the Registrant's anti-money laundering program.

 

The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for Non-Audit Services by the Auditor to Service Affiliates, other than the services reported in paragraphs (b) through (c) of this Item, which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee, were $0 in 2019 and $0 in 2020.

 

(e)(1)  Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures.  The Registrant's Audit Committee has established policies and procedures (the "Policy") for pre-approval (within specified fee limits) of the Auditor's engagements for non-audit services to the Registrant and Service Affiliates without specific case-by-case consideration.  The pre-approved services in the Policy can include pre-approved audit services, pre-approved audit-related services, pre-approved tax services and pre-approved all other services.  Pre-approval considerations include whether the proposed services are compatible with maintaining the Auditor's independence.  Pre-approvals pursuant to the Policy are considered annually.

(e)(2)  Note.  None of the services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item 4 were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

(f)  None of the hours expended on the principal accountant's engagement to audit the registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant's full-time, permanent employees.

Non-Audit Fees.  The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Auditor for services rendered to the Registrant, and rendered to Service Affiliates, for the Reporting Periods were $682,514 in 2019 and $807,171 in 2020.

 

Auditor Independence.  The Registrant's Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates, which were not pre-approved (not requiring pre-approval), is compatible with maintaining the Auditor's independence.

 

Item 5.             Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

                        Not applicable.

Item 6.             Investments.

(a)                    Not applicable.

Item 7.             Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

                        Not applicable.

Item 8.             Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

 


 

 

Item 9.             Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers.

                        Not applicable.

Item 10.           Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures applicable to Item 10.

Item 11.           Controls and Procedures.

(a)        The Registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the reports that it files or submits on Form N-CSR is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b)        There were no changes to the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12.           Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

Item 13.           Exhibits.

(a)(1)    Code of ethics referred to in Item 2.

(a)(2)    Certifications of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(a)(3)    Not applicable.

(b)        Certification of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.


 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund

 

By:       /s/ Renee LaRoche-Morris

            Renee LaRoche-Morris

            President (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date:    June 25, 2020

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:       /s/ Renee LaRoche-Morris

            Renee LaRoche-Morris

            President (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date:    June 25, 2020

 

By:       /s/ James Windels

            James Windels

            Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

Date:    June 25, 2020

 

 

 


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

(a)(1)    Code of ethics referred to in Item 2.

(a)(2)    Certifications of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  (EX-99.CERT)

(b)        Certification of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  (EX-99.906CERT)

THE BNY MELLON FAMILY OF FUNDS

BNY MELLON FUNDS TRUST

 

Principal Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officer

Code of Ethics

I.                Covered Officers/Purpose of the Code

This code of ethics (the "Code"), adopted by the funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds and BNY Mellon Funds Trust (each, a "Fund"), applies to each Fund's Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer or Controller, or other persons performing similar functions, each of whom is listed on Exhibit A (the "Covered Officers"), for the purpose of promoting:

·          honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

·          full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Fund files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and in other public communications made by the Fund;

·          compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations;

·          the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and

·          accountability for adherence to the Code.

Each Covered Officer should adhere to a high standard of business ethics and should be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest.

II.              Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest

Overview.  A "conflict of interest" occurs when a Covered Officer's private interest interferes with the interests of, or his service to, the Fund.  For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his position with the Fund.

Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and the Fund and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Advisers Act").  For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the Fund because of their status as "affiliated persons" of the Fund.  The compliance programs and procedures of the Fund and the Fund's investment adviser (the "Adviser") are designed to prevent, or identify and correct, violations of these provisions.  The Code does not, and is not intended to, repeat or replace these programs and procedures, and the circumstances they cover fall outside of the parameters of the Code.

Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between the Fund and the Adviser of which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees.  As a result, the Code recognizes that the Covered Officers, in the ordinary course of their duties (whether formally for the Fund or for the Adviser, or for both), will be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that will have different effects on the Adviser and the Fund.  The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between the Fund and the Adviser and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the Fund and, if addressed in conformity with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act, will be deemed to have been handled ethically.  In addition, it is recognized by the Fund's Board that the Covered Officers also may be officers or employees of one or more other investment companies covered by this or other codes of ethics.


 

Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code, even if such conflicts of interest are not subject to provisions in the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act.  Covered Officers should keep in mind that the Code cannot enumerate every possible scenario.  The overarching principle of the Code is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of the Fund.

Each Covered Officer must:

·          not use his personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by the Fund whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the Fund;

·          not cause the Fund to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the benefit of the Fund; and

·          not retaliate against any employee or Covered Officer for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith.

III.            Disclosure and Compliance

·          Each Covered Officer should familiarize himself with the disclosure requirements generally applicable to the Fund within his area of responsibility;

·          each Covered Officer should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Fund to others, whether within or outside the Fund, including to the Fund's Board members and auditors, and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations;

·          each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the Fund and the Adviser with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the Fund files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Fund; and

·          it is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

IV.            Reporting and Accountability

Each Covered Officer must:

·          upon adoption of the Code (or thereafter, as applicable, upon becoming a Covered Officer), affirm in writing to the Board that he has received, read, and understands the Code;

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·          annually thereafter affirm to the Board that he has complied with the requirements of the Code; and

·          notify the Adviser's General Counsel (the "General Counsel") promptly if he knows of any violation of the Code.  Failure to do so is itself a violation of the Code.

The General Counsel is responsible for applying the Code to specific situations in which questions are presented under it and has the authority to interpret the Code in any particular situation.  However, waivers sought by any Covered Officer will be considered by the Fund's Board.

The Fund will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing the Code:

·          the General Counsel will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to him;

·          if, after such investigation, the General Counsel believes that no violation has occurred, the General Counsel is not required to take any further action;

·          any matter that the General Counsel believes is a violation will be reported to the Board;

·          if the Board concurs that a violation has occurred, it will consider appropriate action, which may include: review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of the Adviser or its board; or dismissal of the Covered Officer;

·          the Board will be responsible for granting waivers, as appropriate; and

·          any waivers of or amendments to the Code, to the extent required, will be disclosed as provided by SEC rules.

V.              Other Policies and Procedures

The Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Fund for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder.  The Fund's, its principal underwriter's and the Adviser's codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act and the Adviser's additional policies and procedures, including its Code of Conduct, are separate requirements applying to the Covered Officers and others, and are not part of the Code.

VI.            Amendments

Except as to Exhibit A, the Code may not be amended except in written form, which is specifically approved or ratified by a majority vote of the Fund's Board, including a majority of independent Board members.

VII.          Confidentiality

All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to the Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly.  Except as otherwise required by law or the Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the appropriate Funds and their counsel, the appropriate Boards (or Committees) and their counsel and the Adviser.

 

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VIII.       Internal Use

The Code is intended solely for the internal use by the Fund and does not constitute an admission, by or on behalf of the Fund, as to any fact, circumstance, or legal conclusion.

 

Dated as of:  June 3, 2019

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Exhibit A

Persons Covered by the Code of Ethics

 

 

Renee LaRoche-Morris

President

(Principal Executive Officer, BNY Mellon Family of Funds)

 

 

 

Patrick T. Crowe

President

(Principal Executive Officer, BNY Mellon Funds Trust)

 

 

 

James M. Windels

Treasurer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

5

[EX-99.CERT]—Exhibit  (a)(2)

SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION

 

I, Renee LaRoche-Morris, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund;

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.  The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.  The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

                                                                                      By:         /s/ Renee LaRoche-Morris

                                                                                                     Renee LaRoche-Morris

                                                                                                     President (Principal Executive Officer)

                                                                                      Date:      June 25, 2020


 

SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION

I, James Windels, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of BNY Mellon Opportunistic Municipal Securities Fund;

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.  The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.  The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

                                                                                      By:         /s/ James Windels

                                                                                                     James Windels

                                                                                                     Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

                                                                                      Date:      June 25, 2020

[EX-99.906CERT]

Exhibit (b)

 

 

SECTION 906 CERTIFICATIONS

              In connection with this report on Form N-CSR for the Registrant as furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), the undersigned hereby certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

              (1)          the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as applicable; and

 

              (2)          the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

 

                                                                                      By:         /s/ Renee LaRoche-Morris

                                                                                      Renee LaRoche-Morris

                                                                                                     President (Principal Executive Officer)

                                                                                      Date:      June 25, 2020

 

                                                                                      By:         /s/ James Windels

                                                                                                     James Windels

                                                                                                     Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

                                                                                      Date:      June 25, 2020

 

 

This certificate is furnished pursuant to the requirements of Form N-CSR and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.